Duncan: I want to play as long as I can

One thing about All-Star Friday media day always has annoying some of us in the print media: Zero exclusivity.

I got to Tim Duncan’s table and for 15 minutes asked 90 percent of the questions of the Spurs’ 13-time All-Star and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player.

Included among my questions, intended for use in a story to run in Sunday’s Express-News print editions, were several about the eventual end of Duncan’s great career.

The 33-year-old’s responses were interesting, to say the least.

I can’t wait for Sunday’s editions to get them public, not with the rest of the local media who made the trip to Dallas salivating about Duncan’s responses.

Here are the answers the Spurs captain gave to my questions:

Q — Are you at the point in your career where you can see the finish line?

A – I saw the finish line a while back. I’ve seen it for a while now.

Q – Do you have an idea how much longer you want to do this?

A — I have one year, this year, and two more years after this. I think they’re going to tell me to go home after that. That’s what I’m planning on right now.

Q — If you feel as good then as you do now would you want to keep going?

A – I’d love to play as long as I can. I want to be as effective on the court. I don’t’ want to be on the court just to be on the court. I’m a player. I’m a competitor. If I can do it the way I want to do it, yeah, I’ll keep doing it.”

Q – So the summer regimen that helped you get ready for this seasonwill be the annual summer regimen?

A — Yeah. Try and keep my body as fresh as possible, starting a little later and hopefully that will extend my season, my health, during the season much better.